On Thursday, 13 December the Policing Minister announced the funding for the police service for the next year. The settlement recognises that policing is under significant financial pressure whilst experiencing exceptional operational demand. In addition to providing extra funding through the core grant, the Government has also given the flexibility to all Police and Crime Commissioners to increase the policing element of the council tax by £2 per month per Band D property (£24 per year). In welcoming this flexibility there is only one option that I can recommend to you as the best option to support local policing, and that is to raise the policing element of the council tax by £2 per month, £24 per year per Band D property.This position has been welcomed by the chief constable and Hampshire Police Federation.To capture public opinion a consultation has been launched – please take the survey here.To give you my reassurance, I wish to make a commitment that all of the money that comes from a rise in local council tax will ensure that locally, communities will have the same level of policing support – configured by the Chief Constable and her team to meet current threats.I would like your views on whether you support an increase to sustain policing in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton and ensure operationally effective policing can meet increasing demands, greater complexity and changes in criminal activity.Thank you for your participation.Michael LanePolice and Crime Commissioner